Control for charging fluid containers



March 10, 1953 c, FlLsTRUP, JR 2,630,826

CONTROL FOR CHARGING FLUID CONTAINERS Filed May 27, 1949 INVENTOR. famg go 67 1515721 1?- 4 WYW Patented Mar. 10, 1953 CONTROL FOR CHARGING FLUID CONTAINERS Edward C. Filstrup, 3n, St. oseph, Mich., assignor to Armstrong Coalbreak;0ompany,-Benton Harbor, Mich., a corporation of Michigan Application May 2'7, 19 19, SerialNo. 95,8 00

This invention relates to improvements in controls for charging fluid containers. One use for which the invention is especially well suited is to control the chargingof blasting cartridges employed in breaking coal from a veinin a mine, with a gas, such as air, at high pressure.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a valve device'h-aving two operating positions, said device'in'one position serving to direct fluid under pressure from a source, such as a pressure generator or compressor,' and a tank to a container to be charged, and serving in its opposite position tostop the supply of fluid pressure to the container to be charged, to permit pressure in the line leading to said container to be vented to atmosphere "and to direct fluid under pressure from the generator or compressor to the storage tank topermit continuous operation of the generator or compressor without loss of the fluid pressure generatedand without detrimental back pressure, during the interval between successive operations of charging the container.

A further object isto provide a valve unit comprising a plurality of valves mounted for a simultaneous operation by a single actuator and so connected toeach other and'to pressure generating means, pressurestora'ge means and pressure utilizing means that'difie'rentfluid fiow patterns between'sa-id means are established in l proper sequence and relation for the desired selected positions 'or' are adjusted from one position to another.

Other objects will Ice-apparent from the following specification.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a view illustrating one embodiment of the invention with parts shown in section and with parts illustrateddiagrammatically.

Fig. 2 is a vie'w'similar to Fig. 1 but illustrating the parts in a different, adjustment.

Fig. 3 is an. end viewftaken' from the right in Fig. 1.

Referring to they drawing, which illustrates the preferred embodiment 'of' the invention, the numeral Ill designates" compressor having an 7.

5 Claims. (01. lei-568$ ,2 outlet line 12. The numeral [4 designates a storage container having' a fluid line i 6 communicating therewith; and the numeral 18 designates the unit to'be charged with fluid, such as air,

at a predetermined pressure; Thus, unit It may be a blasting-cartridge 'foruse in mining-which is connected to"a"fiuid' supply conduit 20. The various conduitslz, l8 and-2B are connected to my improved control unit designated generally by the' numeral'22'.

The unit 22 constitutes a plurality of valves which preferably are mounted upon a common support. As illustrated, the support includes a base plate 24 mounting an upright backing plate '25 and is suitably reinforced and strengthenedby block ortbody'i36: having an axialbore 138 therein which receives a coilspring 4D. A neck 42 projects upwardlygfrom the top of the body or block 36. Asecondfblock 144- is secured'upon the upper end of'the.blockx136, being provided with a socket into which the neck 42 fits snugly. A cover plate. fits upon the block and is provided witha'neck portion Atfitting into a recess in thetop of the block 44. ',Suitable annular resilient sealing members 50 of any suitable or desired cross-sectional-shape, such as O-rings,

serve to seal the connections between the block and the neck portions .42 and 48; The neck portion 42 is .interiorly circumferentially recessed to receive an annular resilient sealing member or'm'embersiil, and-the neckdB is similarly interiorly circumferentially recessed to receive an annular resilient sealing member or members 54. The cap 46 of'eachvalve' has an axial bore therethrough' which communicates with a similar bore in the block 44 betweenjthe inner ends oi the recesses receiving the necks 42 and 48. These bores or passages are arranged in axial alignment with the bore '38 in the block 36 and slidably receive a plunger 56 whose outer end projects upwardly-from the cap 46 Thesealing member or membersifii fit arou n'd the plunger 56 to seal the-clearance betweensaid plungerandthe passage in which it slides. At its intermediate portion the bore within the block 44 is enlarged at 58, and two or more passages 66 formed in each block 44 communicate with the enlarged chamber portion 58 and are open at their outer ends. A fitting 62 serves to connect the conduit 26 with one of the outlet passages 60 of valve 30. The block 36 is provided with an inlet passage communicating with the lower end of the bore 38, and a fitting 64 communicates with such inlet passage. The fitting 64 of the valve 32 is connected by a conduit 66 with a fitting connected with another of the outlet ports so of valve 36.

A protective follower sleeve 68, provided with an enlarged shoulder 16, is mounted in each of the valves 30 and 32. The sleeve 68 is of a diameter to fit snugly within a reduced bore portion in the neck 42 of the valve block 36 below an inwardly projecting circumferential rib therein,

to extend within the sealing member or members 52 when in the position illustrated in the valve 30 in Fig. 2, and the enlarged portion I8 thereof fits slidably within the bore 36 of the block 36 of each valve and serves to limit the movement of said sleeve by spring 46 at a position short of the bore enlargement 58. The position of the follower sleeve 68 when the valve plunger 58 is in closed position, retracted into bore portion 38 against the action of spring 4!], is illustrated at valve 36 in Fig. 1.

The selector valve 34 illustrated herein constitutes a block or body 12 provided with a cover plate 14 having a neck 16 projecting therefrom and fitting in a recess in the upper end of the block I2. A bore is formed centrally in the block and the cap and slidably receives a plunger 18. Suitable seals, such as annular resilient sealing members 86, serve to prevent leakage between the body 12 and the cap '14 and between the plunger 18 and the body 12. The bore receiving the plunger 18 is enlarged at 82 intermediate its ends, and a lateral port 84 communicates with this enlarged bore portion. A fitting 86 connects the conduit 16 to the valve 34 in communication with port 84. At a point spaced below the lateral outlet 84, the bore 82 is further enlarged to provide a shoulder 86 against which a valve element 88, such as a ball, seats, said valve element being normally urged toward seated position by a spring 68. Spaced below the shoulder 86 are two or more lateral outlets 92 communicating with the bore. One of these outlets 92 is provided with a fitting 94 serving to connect the conduit 12 from the compressor to the valve. The other lower lateral outlet 92 is provided with a similar fitting 94 which serves to connect one end of a conduit 96 whose other end is connected with the fitting 64 at the inlet of the valve 30. The lower end of the plunger 78 is provided with a reduced projection 98 which is adapted to engage the valve element 88 when the plunger 18 is lowered, as illustrated in Fig. 1, for the purpose of unseating said element from the valve seat 86.

Suitable bracket means or supports 186 are mounted upon the backing plate 26 above the valves 30, 32 and 34 and journal a shaft I02. This shaft mounts a plurality of cams )4, I06 and I68. One end of the shaft I02 mounts an arm I adapted to rotate the cams I84, I06 and 106 in unison. The bracket is provided with a pivot H2 adjacent to each of the cams, which pivot mounts an arm H4 terminating in a cylindrical crossjacent cam and bearing upon the upper end of the adjacent plunger. In the arrangement shown it will be observed that the cam I64 serves to actuate the plunger 56 of the valve 36; the cam ms serves to actuate the plunger of the valve 32; and the cam (68 serves to actuate the plunger H! of the valve 34. The heads H6 interposed between the valve plungers and their actuating cams serve to prevent binding of the parts.

The control unit constructed and connected as illustrated is particularly suited for the intermittent charging of a fluid pressure utilizing device, such as the blasting cartridge 16. These blasting cartridges are commonly made of various types. In one type the device is discharged by the release of pressure at the charging end due to a differential pressure responsive controller associated with the intake thereof; while in another type a shear member is provided so that the device is discharged when the pressure therein reaches a point in excess of that which will be withstood by the shear member. The instant valve device may be utilized with either form. Alternatively, it may also be used with other devices in the nature of fluid pressure containers which are adapted to store fluid under pressure.

By virtue of the construction and connection of the parts, when the deviceis adjusted as illustrated in Fig. 1 in which instance the valve element 88 of the valve 34 is mechanically displaced from its seat 86, fluid under pressure from the line i2 connected with the compressor I6 is permitted to pass into and through the bore 82 of said valve for discharge through the lateral outlet 64 to the line 26 and the storage container (4. The line 96 is open at this time but the valve 30 is closed by virtue of the fact that the plunger 56 thereof extends past the chamber 58 and the outlets 66 with its end fitting within and sealed by the annular sealing member or members 52. Consequently, no fiuid under pressure can be discharged to the pressure utilizing device l8. Instead, any fluid under pressure existing in the line 26 is permitted to flow in the direction of the arrow, in Fig. l to enter the valve 36 through the lateral port 66 with which it is connected, thence to flow into the chamber 58 of said valve, thence head H6, engaging the bottom surface of the adto flow through a second lateral port (not shown) with which the conduit 66 is connected into the valve 32 in the direction of the arrows in Fig. 2. The fluid then enters the bore 38 of the valve 32 and passes upwardly through the sleeve 66 for discharge into the chamber 68 and the lateral outlet or outlets 60 of the valve 32, said lateral outlet being open to atmosphere. In this connection, observe in Fig. 1 that the plunger 56 of the valve 32 is raised to disengage its end from the sleeve 68. Thus the Fig. 1 adjustment of the control unit conditions all of the valves 36, 32 and 34 to establish a flow passing from the compressor 10 to the storage chamber i4 and at the same time permits a bleeding of any pressure in the line 20 to at mosphere through valves 30 and 32.

In the event the pressure utilizing means i8 is a blasting cartridge of the type'whichis discharged upon a bleeding of the pressure within the line 26, the positioning of the control unit in the Fig. 1 position will cause such discharge. In the event the blasting cartridge is of the shear pin type, it will be understood that upon discharge of the cartridge due to the breaking of the shear member, the control unit will be shifted manually to the Fig. 1 position as soon as the discharge occurs. ,In the event the pressureutilizing member i8 is of thetype which to be charged and then stored in its charged condition, the seating of the valves in the Fig. 1 position will permit of the disconnection of the supply line 26 from the pressure source and the release of pressure in line 20 to avoid danger while connecting and disconnecting the line 29 with the member 53 while the compressor it continues to operate. During the interval in which the valves are adjusted in the Fig. 1 position, it will be observed that the storage container I l is charged with fluid under pressure. This storage container may be provided with a suitable pressure relief valve or safety valve in the event the interval during which the valve remains in the Fig. 1 position is s'uihcient to permit the development in said container of a fluid charge of excessive or unsafe value.

When the lever H is shifted to position the cams as illustrated in Fig. 2, the valves 30, 32 and 34 are actuated to permit the valveelement 88 of the valve 34 to return toward its seated position under the influence of the spring 98, to open the valve 3@, and to close the valve 32. Thereupon, assuming that the pressure in the line 12 from the compressor H which enters the port 92 of the valve 34' exceeds the pressure in the storage container l4 so as to seat the valve element 88, the fluid from the compressor will flow to and through the conduit 96 to the valve 30 for discharge into the chamber 58 and the outlet ports to thereof. The fluid under pressure flows through the outlet port with which the line 20 is connected for the supply of the fluid under pressure to the pressure cartridge or member 28. The valve 32 is sealed or closed in the Fig. 2 position so that pressure from the chamber 58 of the valve 30 which enters the conduit 66 is stopped by the sealed fit of the plunger 58 of the valve 32 within the sealing members 52 of that valve. This arrangement permits a direct supply of the fluid under pressure from the compressor ill to the pressure utilizing means it and prevents any leakage or bleeding of the fluid under pressure to atmosphere because of the closed condition of the valve 32.' However, if a high pressure charge of fluid exists within the storage container l4 and the pressure in that container is greater than the force exerted by the spring Gil and the pressure supplied by the compressor and acting against valve element 88, said valve member will be held unseated and the stored fluid will be discharged through the valve 34 to the conduit 96 and valve 30. When the pressure in the storage container lowers to a value less than the compressor-generated pressure, valve element 88 will be seated, and fluid flow will be from the compressor, through the valve 34, conduit 96, valve 30 and line 20, to the unit it. This arrangement permits the rapid building up of the desired pressure in the pressure utilizing means l8 and takes advantage of the pressure generated by the compressor and stored in the storage chamber M during the preceding interval in which the valves were adjusted as illustrated in Fig. 1. It will be understood that the valve unit is operated alternately between the Fig. 1 and the Fig. 2 position, it being apparent that all of the valves are simultaneously operated in proper manner at the two operating positions of the lever H6.

One of the primary advantages of the device is in the construction of the valve members, and particularly the valves 36 and 32 which utilize the reciprocating plungers 56 thereof as the valve elements and are adapted to withstand and seal high pressures existingina device of this character by virtue of the seal effected by the annular resilient sealing members 52 when said plunger is in'its closed position. The use of annular resilient sealing members to withstand high pressures is well known. However, the use of such rings invalves of the plimger type has not been common, especially in high pressure installations, because of the fact that such sealing members may be damaged when subjected directly to fluid under pressure. The construction of the valves 30 and 32 obviates this danger. Thus it will beseen that the sleeve 68 serves as a protective means which moves to follow the movements of theplunger 56 as the latter moves out of engagement with the sealing members 52' until it fits completely within said sealing members and protects the same against the direct application of fluid pressure thereto. In Fig. I the plunger 56- of the valve 39 is shown in closed position with its lower end fitting within the sealing members 52 and the sleeve 68 hearing against the end of the plunger and urged thereagainst by the coil spring 40. Theopen position of the valve 3?. of the same construction as valve 30 is shown in Fig. 1 with its plunger 50 positioned to terminate within the cavity 58. Observe that the sleeve 68 of valve 32 has been shifted upwardly by its spring 4'0 to the extent permitted by the shoulder 10 and that the sleeve 68- fits within the sealing members 52' to protect the same. In the movement from closed position to open position, the sleeve follows the movement of the plunger to the extent permitted by shoulder Hi and, after the sleeve is stopped, continued movement of the plunger will effect the valve opening operation.

While the construction of' the control unit as illustrated and described and using. valves of the type shown is preferred, it will be understood that valves of other types may be employed and that other changes maybe madev in the device, within the scope of the appended claims, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

I claim:

1. A valve unit adapted to control the flow of gas between a compressor; a reservoir and a container to be charged with a gas under high pressure, comprising a support, a first shut-01f valve including a valve element, a second shut-- off valve including a valve element, a selector valve including a spring pressed valve element, and a chambered valve body, said selector valve body having a pair of ports at one side of said element and in constant communication and a port at the opposite side of said element, one of said first named ports being adapted to be connected to said compressor and said last named port being adapted to be connected with said reservoir, each shut-off valve including a chambered valve body having an inlet port and at least one outlet port, one outlet port of said first shut-oil valve being adapted to be connected with said container, means connecting the inlet of said first shut-off valve with one of the first named ports of said selector valve, means connecting an outlet of said first shut-off valve with the inlet of the second shut-01f valve, the outlet of the second shut-off valve being open to atmosphere, an actuating member carried by and projecting from each valve, and means carried by said support for simultaneously actuating said actuating members, said last named means releasing said selector valve for pressure,

responsive operation, closing said second shutoff valve and opening said first shut-off valve in one position and reversing the setting of said shut-off valves and positively opening said selector valve in a second position.

2. The combination defined in claim 1, wherein said last named means comprises a shaft journaled in said support, a plurality of cams on said shaft each juxtaposed to a valve actuating member and an operating arm projecting laterally from said shaft.

3. The combination defined in claim 1, wherein the valve element of said selector valve constitutes a member spring urged toward seated position and the valve elements of said shut-off valves each constitute a reciprocable member sealed by an annular resilient sealing member when closed, and a protective follower correlated with each reciprocable member and engageable with and confining said sealing member when said reciprocable member is shifted to open position.

4. A valve unit adapted to control the flow of a gas between a compressor adapted for continuous operation, a reservoir, and a vessel to be charged, comprising a valv having a valve element normally spring urged toward seated position, said valve having ports on opposite sides of said valve element adapted to be connected to said compressor and reservoir respectively whereby said valve will prevent flow between said ports in a direction toward said reservoir when closed, a second valve having a valve element and inlet and outlet ports, means connecting said inlet with said first valve for continuous communication with the port of said first valve which is adapted to be connected to said compressor, an outlet of said second valve being adapted for connection with said vessel, a third valve having a valve element and inlet and outlet ports, the outlet port of said third valve being open to atmosphere, means connecting an outlet of said second valve with the inlet of the third valve, and means for actuating said valves simultaneously to actuate said first and third valves in the same sense and said second valve in the opposite sense, the valve element of said first valve being shiftable toward open position against its spring in response to pressure from said reservoir.

5. In combination, a compressor adapted for continuous operation, a reservoir, a vessel to be charged, a valve assembly comprising a selector valve and a pair of shut-off valves, means connecting said valves with one another and with said compressor, reservoir and vessel, and means for simultaneously actuating all of said valves and having two operating positions, said selector valve establishing communication between said compressor and said reservoir and one of said shut-on valves venting said vessel to atmosphere in one of said positions, and the other shut-off valve establishing communication between said compressor and said vessel in the other position said shut-off valves each including a valve element reciprocable in an elongated bore having a transverse outlet intermediate its ends and spanned by said valve element when closed, an annular resilient sealing member sealing the bore around said valve element at a point between the valve inlet and the outlet, and a sleeve member associated with said valve element and shiftable with said valve element as the latter moves to open position, said sleeve member engaging and protecting said sealing member and terminating clear of said outlet when said valve element is in open position.

EDWARD C. FILSTRUP, JR.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 382,469 Hawthorn May 8, 1888 846,266 VonPhilp Mar. 5, 1907 969,803 Pollock Sept. 13, 1910 1,279,650 Bungay Sept. 24, 1918 1,293,858 Mills Feb. 11, 1919 1,385,019 Mathieu July 19, 1921 1,601,907 Christensen Oct. 5, 1926 2,054,346 Van Sittert Sept. 15, 1936 2,214,271 Camerta Sept. 10, 1940 2,275,963 Herman, et a1. Mar. 10, 1942 2,338,101 Ellinwood Jan. 4, 1944 

